Post-holidays perfect time to trim toys and help out other families

Published December 27, 2011 in the Commercial Appeal

Now that the holidays have passed and the resolutions are beginning, many parents are eyeing their children's rooms. Finding a new home for gently used toys and books can clear the clutter, make room for new toys and benefit a number of local organizations, including schools.

Harold Williams, who lives in Marion, Ark., and works in Memphis, noticed during Thanksgiving weekend that he had to wade into his 8-year-old son's room. "You had to be careful with every step you took or you'd hurt yourself," he said of the sea of toys on John's floor. When Williams noticed that his son was bringing toys out of his room to play with them elsewhere because there was no room to play on his floor, he knew it was time to do something.

Together, he and John went through the toys under the guise of making room for Christmas presents. Williams said they ended up with two or three large garbage bags full of toys that were broken, used up or missing parts; one or two bags of unwanted but perfectly good toys; and a huge bag of stuffed animals that Williams agreed to store in the attic. "John loves stuffed animals," he said. "He was with me on everything, so I was willing to compromise on the animals."

John immediately began hanging out in his room again.

His dad said John was happy to donate some of his toys to the Salvation Army so other children might enjoy them. "John wanted them to actually go to another kid."

Midtowner Shannon Dixon has enlisted the help of her son, Max, 10, to clear the clutter in his room since he was a baby. "When he was young, his toys got out of hand pretty easily," she said.

Around his birthday in May and at Christmastime, she would go through his things and thin them out -- with him in the room.

"When he became verbal, we talked about how we have a small house with limited space and how there are kids all over Memphis that need toys," she said.

They typically pack up toys that are no longer age appropriate or that don't interest Max anymore. She thinks it's important that he's been involved in the clean-ups from a young age. "Now, he sees that it's always been that way and is always willing to help fill up a bag for Goodwill."

There is a Goodwill drop off a few blocks from the Dixon home, so that is where they choose to donate.

Dixon said they also discuss being respectful about what they pass on -- no broken or worn-out toys with missing pieces -- and they always participate in "Toys for Tots."

There are a few sentimental things stored in the attic for use by Max's children in the future.

"We don't usually give toys to friends because we assume they can buy what they want," Dixon said.

Local schools are often in need of donations as well. Kindergarten teacher Christina McAfee suggests contacting a school's principal to talk about what needs could be met -- or ask a specific teacher if he or she has a wish list. "Needs can vary a great deal from school to school," said McAfee, who works at Willow Oaks Elementary School.

She said classroom teachers have a specific amount of money they are given each year by the principal, but they often end up spending their own money, applying for grants, or reusing old and unwanted items in their classrooms.

McAfee specifically looks for things for her activity centers, like building toys, craft supplies, dress-up type items, puppets or stuffed animals, doll house and playhouse items. "Years ago, I gave away all my children's toys to other friends," she said. "Had I known I would be working with 30-plus kindergarten students this year, I would have kept everything."

She is also working on building a classroom library that has enough variety for all of her students. "I have found discarded books, bought from yard sales. Books that people don't want could be well used in my library." McAfee is especially interested in easy chapter books, like "The Magic Tree House," for grades 1-4.

Dixon said she and her son also periodically go through his books and make a pile for his school's library.

"It's tough to be a public school teacher these days. Donations help teachers teach, and teach better," McAfee said.

More information

Culling your child's toys to make room for what Santa brought? Here are some organizations that take donations:

YWCA Abused Women's Shelter (memphisywca.org)

Items needed:

Toys (for all ages), books (for all ages, English and Spanish languages), dolls, cars and trucks, dress-up jewelry/clothing, video games, children's videos (English and Spanish languages), footballs, basketballs, portable cassette/compact disc players.

Salvation Army (salvationarmymemphis.org)

The Salvation Army's Family Thrift Stores operate year-round and fund many of the nonprofit's programs.

Donations can be dropped off at all Family Store locations and at the main office at 2649 Kirby Whitten.

To arrange pickup of donated items: Call (901) 728-7825.

Goodwill (goodwillmemphis.org)

Church Health Center Wellness Child Life Center (churchhealthcenter.org/childlife)

Wish List:

Educational toys, wooden toys, board games, art supplies, etc. No plush items are accepted. If it is something the center cannot use, it will be given to a family who can.

Many other organizations in town take donations of gently used toys. Pick your favorite, but call first to make sure what you have is needed.